The Careers and Enterprise Company, set up by the government to support careers provision for 12-18 year olds, will be launching a new “on-the-ground” programme in time for the new academic session, aiming to link up schools and employers.
The employer-led venture, independent of the government, was launched in 2014 to “transform the provision of careers education and advice for young people and inspire them about the opportunities offered by the world of work.” It also aims to educate young people on their wide range of options in their post-school education and their career, preparing them for life after school.
The project will be carried out through implementing a network of ‘enterprise advisors’ made up of business volunteers, and will aim to connect schools, colleges, employers and enterprise organisations. Employers will be able to communicate directly with pupils, providing them with expert knowledge on the world of work and ensure they are well-informed on their options moving forward.
Careers advice in schools has been the subject of much scrutiny recently, with Teach First stating all schools should have a professionally trained teacher delivering careers advice to their pupils. The charity suggested young people, particularly those from a less affluent background, are being failed by systems that do not embed employability into the core curriculum.
The upcoming programme is expected to help schools struggling to meet high careers advice standards due to a lack of funding. Links with businesses will help these schools with low resources, and will also give pupils a greater understanding of the world of work, the options available to them, and what is expected of them when it comes to finding a job. It will investigate the current engagement between schools and employers to understand what is currently working and where improvements need to be made.
Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of the Careers and Enterprise Company, said of the venture: “The world of work is changing fast and equipping young people requires ever closer engagement between employment and education. Young people need to be motivated, helped to better understand the relevance of their education, and supported in making independent and fact-based decisions about their futures.
“Direct exposure to employers and the self-employed is key. Our role is to connect schools to employers across the country in particular in places where those connections are weak.”
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan commented: “The new Careers and Enterprise Company will encourage greater collaboration between employers and schools, helping schools and colleges access a wealth of experience to inspire young people about the possibilities of the world of work.
“This will benefit young people across the country and ensure they leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain. We know that the ultimate success of our long-term economic plan for this country rests on their shoulders and we are backing them every step of the way.”
At NCFE, we believe quality careers advice is crucial to a young person’s journey through education and beyond, and we support the initiative to improve careers advice in schools. We’re launching our CareerHow service next month, a website dedicated to offering clear career paths to help young people progress into the jobs that they want. Your learners can sign up now, entering the career they’re interested in, then we’ll give them advice on the pathways they can take, how they can utilise their existing qualifications, and the qualifications they need to succeed.
What are your thoughts on the programme? Will it help you and your school provide meaningful careers advice?
